DIY Kayak Trolling Motor Cable Lift System 

Been looking for this, just to get the motor out in shallow water. Thought about a disconnect for the tiller, but I think this is all I really need. Very smart.

With a simple snatch block system on the hull of the kayak, you could literally raise the motor with your pinky finger.Thanks for this.

I just finished rigging up my yak using this video as a guide and it works perfectly! Thanks again for uploading the vid man! Knowing the placement of the pulley and knowing to get spacers on there is key.

just want to say how much i like and appreciate your videos. What would make them really more awesome if you put a parts list in the comments and/or links to where to buy them online. Thanks for posting. Brillaint work.

Very interesting DIY for a lift system.

Genius!!! My next upgrade for sure.

Just what I was looking for! Thanks!

You may not need any spacers on some Minnkota motors, depends on the model. I didn't need any spacers on my 40 lb. thrust motor.

Thanks, ill try it out

Great Info!

Hi Aksman, Nice clean looking mod. I did a similar mod a couple of years ago on one of my previous setups. At the time I had a bracket attached to my seat base with 4 each 1/4" holes evening spaces from front to rear with 1/4 X 20 X 1 1/2" bolts double nutted into place. I had a loop in my cable end that I could place on any of the various bolt shafts to adjust the depth. I now have a clam cleat system that will allow you slide the cord through to adjust the trolling motor depth. Then if you wanted to release the motor and go to the maximum depth you would just pull the cord outward it would release it. The cam cleat I used had cover on the top of it that kept the cord in place when you would pull outward on the cord to release it. The steering arm currently is fixed to the trolling motor shaft and as you lift the motor it raises the steering bracket when the motor is lifted and it changes the foot pedal positions. Have you tried lifting the motor with your steering arm attached to the trolling motor shaft and see how that effects your foot pedal steering position? Mine worked fine to raise the motor when you were approaching shallow water when docking your kayak etc. When I tried a different steering system i.e. linear actuator which required a fixed trolling motor shaft position it would no longer work for me and I made a different tilt and trim system. Love to see yours in action on the water as I believe it would work fine. Here is a link to the cam cleat. www.ebay.com/itm/Nautos-91026BR-Small-Composite-Cam-Cleat-Red-Base-/271797329075?hash=item3f48621cb3:g:bFYAAOSw~bFWHB-u&vxp=mtr Go to 3:40 on the time line of this video to see how the cam cleat operates. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YhZadqCI0JI.html Many thanks for sharing! John

If you mirrored the pully on the starboard side of the transom and connect the paracord the same way and pulled together, tie to a carabiner centered in front of the motor, it would make an even Yoke pull from the center. Pulling from both sides thus, a straight up pull

this is a great idaa but I think that if I had foot steering setup this would not work. I don't think there would be enough slack in the steering cables.

Love the idea, are you able to incorporate this with the remote? would love if somehow we can put a spring or a motor to lift and lower the motor?

Got it

Looks easy enough but will it work if you have any steering device hooked up to the shaft?

Great vid, straightforward and simple. Where did you get the pulley and spacers from? Thanks.

It sounded like you said harkum pulley. Where did you get that. Thanks!

Ever try putting a second pulley to make it easier to lift?

What size hardware did you use to install the harken pulley? Thanks

Great idea! How do you fix the paracord so the motor stays up?

the clamp that allows the motor to be pulled up or down is loosen does it have any chance on rotating left or right? I'm using a rudder system unlike connecting the steering cables directly to the motor so I'm worried it will freely rotate on it's own

Did you make the spacers or ? Thanks, I'm going to try this w/my new 62lb thrust 12v motor.

Are using the same 900 lb Speargun line that you used for the steering? Is it the kevlar type? And what diameter line will the Harken pulley accept? Thanks again.

How do you steer the trolling motor. I would like to implement your solution, but I can't figure out how to create slack in my toe pilot foot pedals when the motor is lifted...I have an ATAK 120 where the steering cables come out straight off the back of the kayak, so lifting the motor would pull the cables.

Why do you need the caribeaner

How will you steer it

Are you able to go up to full 90° tilt with the trolling motor after installing the pulleys? If so what length bolts did you use?

did the pulley come with hardware ?

Where did you get the pulley and spacers?

How did you make the spacers?

What size are the spacers?

Do you think it will work with an 86 lb thrust motor?

where do you buy the pulley?

What size harken pulley (cheek block) did you use? Thx!

Can you go reverse with that setup?

Any way to use this lift system but have the motor not turn/stay straight?